Lessons Learned: Why “Safe Sex” Messaging Failed

Sex Education,

For decades, public health campaigns promoted “safe sex” as the key to preventing sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies, and state and federal officials spent millions of dollars teaching comprehensive sex education to students. But evidence shows that despite the massive investment, STD rates and teen pregnancy rates have remained high.

After his election in 2008, President Obama’s administration gave Planned Parenthood millions of dollars in funding for comprehensive teen pregnancy prevention programs.

Experts later found students who went through Planned Parenthood’s sex education programs were often more likely to become pregnant or cause a pregnancy.

In other words, Planned Parenthood’s multimillion-dollar sex education program did exactly the opposite of what it was intended to do.

In 2016, researchers evaluating similar Teen Pregnancy Prevention programs around the country found the programs did not really change students’ behavior, writing:

Many of the [Teen Pregnancy Prevention program] evaluations saw positive impacts on measures such as knowledge and attitudes; however, these findings did not translate into positive behavioral changes.

In 2016 — while President Obama was still in office — the CDC released a 208-page report concluding teenagers who practiced abstinence were healthier in nearly every way than teenagers who were sexually active.

The CDC’s report looked at everything from seatbelt and bike helmet use to substance abuse, diet, exercise, and even tanning bed use.

Their conclusion was that sexually active teens were less healthy and engaged in riskier behavior across the board.

The Christian alternative to comprehensive sex education is a virtue‑based paradigm rooted in Scripture: “Flee from sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18) and “Let marriage be held in honor among all” (Hebrews 13:4).

Purity and faithfulness are not fringe ideas but biblical truths that protect body, mind, soul, and community. That is a message that endures where education and messaging fail.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Making Sense of Mixed Signals on Church Attendance, Religious Affiliation in America

Christianity,

Public opinion polling seems to be sending mixed signals when it comes to Americans’ religious affiliation.

Bible reading surged in 2024 and 2025, and last year news outlets reported how a large share of American adults have rediscovered Christianity in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Barna, Millennial and Gen Z churchgoers attend services approximately twice a month, on average, and teens are “very motivated to learn about Jesus.“ Gallup even announced last June that a growing share of Americans actually see religion’s influence increasing.

But earlier this month, Gallup released a poll showing that “religious engagement” in America is still low. Religiously unaffiliated “Nones” in America rose to 24% last year. Less than half of U.S. adults now say religion is “very important,” and less than one in three attend church weekly. Some predict the U.S. could see as many as 100,000 churches close in the next few years.

Some reports seem to show Christianity growing in America while others suggest it’s declining. Which is it?

There are a few possible explanations.

One may be that the distinction between religious and non-religious people is becoming more pronounced.

Few people may go to church weekly, but the ones who do go to church are highly committed to their faith.

Some people may describe this as a decline in cultural or “nominal” Christianity: People who don’t take their faith seriously may be less likely to call themselves Christians or attend church. But those who do profess to be Christians are very devout.

That could help explain why we see so much engagement with the Bible and so many headlines about young adults going to church even as the number of religious “Nones” has gone up.

Another point to consider is that Americans’ church preferences may be changing.

For decades Christians have shifted away from mainline churches and denominations in favor of less formal evangelical or nondenominational churches.

If some churches are shrinking — or closing altogether — while others are remaining stable or growing, that doesn’t represent a decline in Christianity. It may just mean that Christians’ church and denominational preferences are still changing.

On a broader level, in 2017, Pew Research Center found a growing share of Americans identify as “spiritual but not religious.” Many people may think they can be spiritual or even follow Christ without going to church. But being part of a local community of believers is an important part of discipleship. Christians encourage one another and help build each other up in the faith. Church isn’t optional for Christians. It’s essential.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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A Christian Reflection on the Dangers of Sports Betting

Gambling, ,

In recent years, sports betting has expanded across America, and it’s mostly been promoted as harmless entertainment — or even an easy source of state tax revenue. But a growing body of research shows sports betting carries serious social costs. Christians need to understand what is at stake when it comes to gambling on sports.

The National Council on Problem Gambling reports that “the rate of gambling problems among sports bettors is at least twice as high as among gamblers in general.” When sports gambling is conducted online, that rate is goes higher.

Sports betting also hurts communities. Research has shown a strong connection between gambling problems and higher rates of depression, substance abuse, and suicide. Families often suffer when a loved one is ensnared by gambling problems. That’s bad for everybody.

Scripture warns that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Sports betting thrives on greed.

Christians have a responsibility to care about our neighbors enough to oppose sports betting and the harm that it causes. We also need to promote contentment, integrity, and holy living. Otherwise, problem gambling will simply hurt more and more innocent people in our communities.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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